Sammy Ofer Stadium Voted Among Top Ten Football Arenas Worldwide for 2026
Haifa's Sammy Ofer Stadium has been ranked ninth in the world and first in the Middle East for 2026 by international travel portal Worth a Journey, surpassing iconic global venues.
Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa has secured global recognition after being voted one of the top ten football stadiums in the world for 2026. The arena, home to Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa, ranked ninth globally and first in the Middle East, surpassing several legendary venues in international football.
According to rankings published by the international travel portal Worth a Journey, which evaluated 100 stadiums worldwide based on data and visitor experience, the Haifa facility finished ahead of Liverpool's Anfield, Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena, Milan's San Siro, Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu, as well as Wembley and Emirates Stadium in London.
Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park claimed the top spot in the rankings, followed by River Plate's Monumental Stadium in Argentina in second place and Brazil's Beira-Rio Stadium in third.
The international portal highlighted Sammy Ofer Stadium's distinctive architectural design, particularly its golden exterior shell, which has become one of its signature features. Reviewers also praised the proximity of the stands to the pitch and the electric atmosphere created by supporters of both Haifa clubs.
Stadium CEO Lior Peri welcomed the milestone: "The selection of Sammy Ofer Stadium as one of the world's most recommended football venues and the top arena in the Middle East is an international vote of confidence in the quality of the facility, its architectural design, and above all, the unique visitor experience it provides."
Opened in 2014 with a capacity of 30,955 seats, the stadium holds UEFA Category 4 status, enabling it to host international matches under strict European standards. The structure was designed by British firm KSS in collaboration with the Haifa-based architectural office Mansfeld-Kehat.
